‘Bakit ‘nio tinatapon basura ‘nio sa amin?’ filePinagbuntunan ng galit ng isang barangay kagawad ang mga pinuno ng iba pang 51 barangay na nagtatapon ng basura sa kanila, dahil

‘Bakit ‘nio tinatapon basura ‘nio sa amin?’ Pinagbuntunan ng galit ng isang barangay kagawad ang mga pinuno ng iba pang 51 barangay na nagtatapon ng basura sa kanila, dahil pinaggigiitan ng isang kapitan na patuloy itong arrangement mula pamahalaang lungsod. (A barangay councilwoman vented her frustration on officials of 51 other barangays dumping their garbage in hers, because one chair insisted that the city government continue with the same arrangement.)

―Bakit ninyo tinatapon ang basura ninyo sa amin? Matapos ang higit 20 taon, kami dapat ngayon ang magtapon ng basura sa inyong barangay!‖ Sa pagkasindak, nanahimik na lamang ang kapitan. (“Why do you dump your garbage on us? After more than 20 years, we should now dump our garbage in your barangay!” Shocked, the chair kept silent.) SA SUSUNOD NA PAHINA

5/15/2017

The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it. For He has founded it upon the

seas And established it upon the rivers.--- Psalm 24:1-2

megamanilascene.wordpress.com | Vol 1 Issue 11


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‘Bakit ‘nio tinatapon basura ‘nio sa amin?’ (PAGPAPATULOY NG COVER STORY)

Bugnot naman ang ibang opisyales ng naaapektuhang barangay sa nakasusulasok na amoy ng nabubulok at sunog na basura; ang mga lumalalang respiratory ailment, impeksyon sa balat, diarrhea, pagsusuka; ang punung-puno ng basura na ilog pa-Manila Bay. Absent ang sarili nilang kapitan. ―Negosyo‖ niya ang pagtatapon ng basura. (The other officials

of the affected barangay denounced the unbearable stink from rotting and burnt garbage; the worsening respiratory ailments, skin infections, diarrhea, vomiting; and the trash-filled river emptying into Manila Bay. Their own chair had absented himself. Dumping was his “business.”)

Pitong taon nang ganito ang sitwasyon sa Malolos City, Bulacan, sa isang summit tungkol sa pamamahala ng ecological waste na kami‘y naimbitahan mag-lecture. Hanggang ngayon, hirap ang alkalde na ipa-comply sa mga barangay ang pambarangay na pamamahala sa basura. (That scene goes back seven years in Malolos City, Bulacan, in a summit on ecological waste management where we were invited to deliver a lecture. Until now, the mayor is having a hard time making the barangays comply with barangay-based waste management.)

Sa bisa ng Republic Act No. 9003 o ang Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, mayroong tagubilin sa mga lokal na pamahalaan na galangin ang pagiging sensitibo ng mga pamayanan sa sanitary landfills (―SLFs‖) na maaari lamang pahintulutan sa loob ng limang taon, at nasa mga tao ang pagpapahalaga sa makakalikasan at sustainable solid waste disposal. (Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 mandates local government units to respect the “sensitivities” of communities in siting “sanitary landfills” (“SLFs”), which are good for only five years, and the people to “internalize the

value of environmentally sound and sustainable solid waste disposal.”)

Nagtala ang National Solid Waste Management Commission ng 101 ―SLFs‖ o glorified dumps sa bansa. Kasama sa mga ―sikat‖ na SLF sites ang Payatas, Quezon City; San Jose del Monte (SJDM) City, Bulacan; Rodriguez (Montalban) at San Mateo, Rizal; San Pedro, Laguna; at ang Barangay Tanza, Navotas City. (The National Solid Waste Management Commission lists 101 “SLFs” or glorified dumps in the country. The “prominent” SLF sites include Payatas, Quezon


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City; San Jose del Monte (SJDM) City, Bulacan; Rodriguez (Montalban) and San Mateo, Rizal; San Pedro, Laguna; and Barangay Tanza, Navotas City.

Naghain ng petisyon sa Korte Suprema ang isang grupo ng mga naninirahan sa Payatas para sa writ of kalikasan na naglalayong ipasara ang dump sa mga kadahilanan ng paglabag na pangkapaligiran at pangkalusugan. Hulyo 10, 2000 nang natabunan ng gumuhong basura ang daan-daang residente ng Payatas. Noong ma-relocate ang mga residente roon, walang basura, mayroong malinis na tubig at mayroong hills na natatakpan ng mga puno. (A group of Payatas residents filed a petition for a writ of kalikasan at the Supreme Court seeking the closure of the dump for environmental violations and health reasons. On July 10, 2000, a trash slide buried hundreds of Payatas residents. When the residents were relocated there, it was garbage-free, with clean water and tree-covered rolling hills.)

Tanong ng tagapanguna ng nagpepetisyong mga taga-Payatas sa mga naninirahan sa Quezon City, ―Paano kung itapon namin ang basura namin sa mga barangay ninyo?‖ Malapit ang dump sa pinagkukunan ng maiinom na tubig sa Metro Manila, ang La Mesa Dam at Balara Filters Park. (The Payatas lead petitioner also asked Quezon City residents, “What if we dump our garbage in your barangays?” The dump is close to Metro Manila’s source of potable water, La Mesa Dam and Balara Filters Park.)

Malapit sa Payatas, sa Rodriguez, ang Rizal SLF kung saan apat ang namatay noong 2013 nang gumuho ang gabundok na basura. Itinatapon ng halos lahat ng mga lungsod sa Metro Manila ang kanilang basura sa naturang watershed area. (Near Payatas, in Rodriguez, is the Rizal SLF where around four people died in 2013 when the mounds of garbage collapsed. Almost all Metro Manila cities dump their trash in that watershed area.)

Sa SJDM, nasa itaas na bahagi ng Barangay San Isidro ang dump. Papasok mula mga bayan at papalabas ng Bulacan, kargado ang mga trak ng basura at nakapag-iiwan ng amoy sa mga bahay. Sa watershed din naroroon ang dump na nagbibigay-polusyon sa creek kung saan ang mga naninirahan noo‘y nakalalangoy at nakapamimingwit ng mga isda, na kumokonekta rin sa Santa Maria River na dumadaloy sa iba‘t ibang bayan ng Bulacan hanggang Manila Bay. (In SJDM, the dump is in uppermost Barangay San Isidro. On their way there from towns in and outside Bulacan, the trucks spill out trash and stink invades the houses. The dump, also in a watershed, pollutes the creek where residents used to swim and fish, and which connects to the Santa Maria River flowing through various Bulacan towns to Manila Bay.)

La Mesa Watershed sa Google Map


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Bago mahalal, tinuligsa ng mayor ang isa pang SLF sa SJDM na naipasara dahil umano sa walang ―customers.‖ Subalit naipagpatuloy ng dump sa San Isidro ang pagtanggap ng basura kabilang ang hospital waste, sa kaalaman din ng

mayor. (Before his election, the mayor opposed another SLF in SJDM, which closed allegedly due to lack of “customers.” But the San Isidro dump continues to accept garbage including hospital waste, with the mayor’s knowledge.)

May apat na watershed at limang spring ang San Mateo, ayon sa isang pinuno ng komunidad. Mga ilang taon ang nakalilipas, nakaiinom siya ng malinaw na tubig sa mga ito matapos siyang mag-jogging. Ngayo‘y hindi na tamang inumin ang tubig sa mga ito dahil, aniya, sa dump leachate. Sa 24/7 kung maglabas-pasok na mga trak ng basura, nakalilikhan ng mabigat na daloy ng trapiko at nakapagpaparumi ng hangin. (San Mateo has four watersheds and five springs, said a community leader. Years ago, after jogging in the area, he would drink from the pristine waters. Now the waters are no longer fit to drink, he said, due to the dump leachate. Dump trucks coming and leaving 24/7 create heavy traffic and pollute the air.)

Sa San Pedro, Laguna, may matatagpuang SLF sa gitna ng middle-class subdivisions kung saan nag-invest ang mga naninirahan ng pinaghirapang salapi sa kanilang pinangarap na mga tahanan. Mala-bangungot ang binibigay ngayon nito sa kanila. (The SLF in San Pedro, Laguna, is located amid middle-class subdivisions where residents invested hard-earned money on their dream homes. It is now giving them nightmares.)

Sa tabing-dagat naman ang SLF sa Tanza, Navotas City na nasa kahabaan ng Manila Bay. Sang-ayon sa RA 9003, nakalugar dapat ang SLFs sa kung saan hindi makapaninira ang landfill operation sa environmentally sensitive resources gaya ng aquifer, groundwater reservoir o watershed area. (The SLF in Tanza, Navotas City, is along the Manila Bay shoreline. RA 9003 states that SLFs must be in an area where the “landfill’s operation will not detrimentally affect environmentally sensitive resources such as aquifer, groundwater reservoir or watershed area.”)

Isang lumalakas na negosyo ang pangongolekta at pagtatapon ng basura na merong ―tamang koneksyon‖ sa nasyonal at lokal na pamahalaan, kasama na riyan ang bilyun-bilyong piso. Sa walang tigil na mga alegasyon ng korupsyon, sinasabi ng RA 9003 na maaaring maghabla ang mamamayan laban sa mga lumalabag sa batas. (Garbage hauling and dumping are a thriving business with the “right connections” in the national and local governments, involving billions of pesos. On persistent allegations of corruption, RA 9003 says the public can file citizen suits against violators.)

HANGING MALINIS at maayos na daloy ng trapiko, tuluyan na nga bang maglalaho dahil umano sa mga trak ng basura na pabalik-balik sa hindi kalayuan sa Metro Manila?


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―Huwag mong gawin sa kapwa mo ang ayaw mong gawin sa iyo.‖ Nakapagdulot na ng global warming at climate change ang pag-abuso sa integrity of Creation ng kapaligiran. (“Do not do unto others what you do not want others to

do unto you.” Abuse of the integrity of Creation in the environment has caused global warming and climate change.)

Glorified dumps, dapat nang isara! (These glorified dumps must be closed!) Taken from http://opinion.inquirer.net/103870/dump-garbage-us. Originally written by Joey C. Papa for the Philippine Daily Inquirer Op-Ed section’s Commentary titled ‘Why do you dump your garbage on us?’ on May 10, 2017

Joey C. Papa is president of the Bangon Kalikasan Movement.

How I wrapped up my 2,000 days in Saudi Arabia It‘s my last day in Saudi Arabia, having no exit-reentry visa for the second time and wrapping up more than 2,000 days (three years at Eastern and four years at Western Region) away from my family. My Jeddah-Dammam-Manila flight would start in the late afternoon. I was about to buy the second pair of wedding rings for me and my wife; years ago I didn‘t notice I dropped my ring while or after washing my hands with soap in a mall restroom and her ring was lost to an akyat-bahay (thief), who ransacked the apartment she and our son rented in one early morning in Manila, my sleeping time in Jeddah. I left my shopped pasalubongs (presents) at the counter of Star supermarket inside the Corniche Commercial Center in Al Balad, Jeddah, so I need not carry these heavy items as I walked to jewelry shops. I passed through the plaza of Al Balad on the way to the jewelry shops. I was calling and exchanging SMS with my wife Eileen that morning. My last text message to her was that I have left Star and would be back there after buying a pair of rings nearby, the last item to purchase as I have already bought chocolates, perfumes, dates, etc. per Eileen‘s request) from Star. While walking, I chanced to ask a kabayan (fellow Filipino) where he usually buys jewelries and Saudi gold and got his response. I‘ve been to the place, albeit not very familiar if I go there by myself. Later, kabayan and I were asked to stop by two agents from Muroor (I didn‘t know this Saudi agency before; I was only familiar with police authorities, their vehicles, and their uniform). Kabayan was the first to show his iqama (residence permit) and the Muroor personnel allowed him to leave. I told kabayan that I was sure that Muroor would understand why I only had a photocopy of my iqama, my original Philippine passport, and my plane ticket in English and Arabic languages. It‘s my turn to show to one of the two Muroor agents my iqama. He didn‘t accept its photocopy. He didn‘t listen to my valid excuse, either. He wanted me to get inside the Muroor‘s owner-type Jeep. Initially I resisted. But the other agent helped him in forcefully putting me inside the government vehicle through its rear. And kabayan yelled, ―Just obey!‖ I never thought that the vehicle was heavily tinted. While inside the Muroor vehicle, I could say this was tough-security captivity. My heart was beating fast. My wife, excited to receive a new ring from me, had no idea what this unexpected turn of events was all about. I attempted to use my cellphone to report this incident to my Saudi colleague, a government relations officer, but the Muroor agent seized it.

‘Abuse of the integrity of Creation in t he environment has caused global warming and climate change,’ says the author.

http://opinion.inquirer.net/103870/dump-garbage-us

http://opinion.inquirer.net/103870/dump-garbage-us


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In the vehicle‘s thin space at the back, I was able to bow down on my knees. Weeks ago I heard a story of a kabayan, who was jailed by Jeddah police. So I was afraid to experience the same fate. Initially not effectual and fervent, my prayer to God in Christ Jesus was bothered by my fresh memory of a story of kabayan‘s weeklong stay in Jeddah‘s Briman prison. Recounting his ordeal, he said that if one has yet to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, he would call the names of all saints he knew; that even if he kills nobody before his jail time, he would later kill one inside Briman prison, which has strong, stinky, dark dungeons/cells. What serves as his alarm clock, kabayan said, is the sound of a walking prisoner‘s chain hitting on the others‘. My prayer in my native language went something like: ―Don‘t allow bad spirits to get ahead of me in this place, oh God. You‘re the King of kings, the Lord of lords. Touch the hearts of these two Saudi authorities and ask them to free me and not harm me in Jesus‘ name. I also claimed that, though I was 2,000 days away from my family, I got retroactive benefits from that Cross of Calvary 2,000 years ago. At this juncture, my worries subsided. I also kept on mentioning my memory verse taken from the Apostle Paul: ――Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.‖ (Philippians 4:6-7) It turned out I was buena mano (―first customer‖) of the day; the Muroor authorities ―took‖ two more Filipinos ―into custody‖ and they became my ―hot seat‖ mates. I told myself that these authorities were pretending they could hardly understand our valid excuses. One agent was in his mid-50‘s, the other mid-30‘s. When they had no more to be subject for ―custodial investigation‖, they drove the jeep. Questions in my mind: Who would know where I would be bound for? Who would search for me upon learning that my loved ones would not be able to pick me up in the Manila airport the following day? ―I already lifted all up to you, Lord God,‖ I continued praying. I‘ve known Christians, who always quote Romans 8:31: ―What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?‖ In my condition, however, it would appear I was one among those who took it out of context and let go on wisdom from God on how to do my share in my own security and protection while taking part in ultra-conservative Saudi society. After a few turns, the vehicle stopped. The three of us were led to a Muroor/Police detachment. The two personnel made sure all our belongings, including our wallets, were confiscated. It‘s 1 p.m. already. I might miss my flight later in the afternoon. But wasn‘t this what I wanted? This was in view of common parlance in the Philippines: ―Sa presinto ka na magpaliwanag‖ (better reason out inside the police precinct).

One of the two Muroor agents ran his hands over our outer garments to determine if we‘re still carrying concealed things. He wasn‘t able to see our riyals tucked in our socks and briefs that we did while we‘re still inside the vehicle. He removed everything inside our wallets, put them in his desk, and asked us to seat on the ground. With too much talks in Arabic for half an hour, it proceeded with ―freeing‖ one of my two kababayans, and it took more than 30 minutes before the last kabayan, non Arabic-speaking, was ―released‖.

One Muroor agent and I remained inside the station.


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Upon handing me back my plane ticket, passport, iqama copy, some money from my jean‘s pocket, and my wallet, he asked in a very soft voice: ―Mafi mushkila, fi SR1,000 (No, problem, do you have SR1,000)? Give.‖ Pleading with milk-drinking gestures, I replied – if my memory serves me right: ―La, la, la, la, la, sadik. Hadha, bazoora. Malum?‖ (No, friend. This one is for my kid). Now I recall what I once read in an entry of ―Jeddah‖ at a travel website: “Spend time wandering around the old city and get lost in the seemingly endless souks. You will find yourself in another world and entirely 'in' the world, surrounded by people (from) all over the (Arab) world, Asia and Africa. Here you will see many forms of dress that are colorful as well as the traditional black. Many of the shops and stores are cut into the sides of buildings and offer stacks of colorful clothing.” http://wikitravel.org/en/Jeddah Abused and corrupted, I could have rephrased it this way: ―Spend time wandering around the old city and get literally lost in the SIM-less, phone-less closets. You will find yourself in another world and entirely ‗in‘ the world, surrounded by people all over the Arab world, Asia and Africa. Here you‘ll get sick of many forms of distress, making you colorless, country-less, blocked. Many of the shops and stores are cut into the sides of buildings and offer stacks of colorful clothing, but beware of bad egg surprises.‖ From SR1,000 the softly reintroduced amount of my ―freedom‖ became SR100. Running out of time, I allowed myself to be bribed. In no time I inserted my wallet back into my pocket and my other returned belongings. I had to move out, halting further wrangling with the bribing authorities. I abhorred this Saudi-style ―bulate-blotter‖ and ―custodial investigation‖ in front of the ―desk officer‖ at the Muroor/Police detachment and the one they victimized hurriedly left and said, ―Shukran, Mas salamah (Thanks, goodbye) to another officer, who perfectly dedicated himself to act as a lookout at the door. Cheers because this lookout gave me back my cellphone (initially for me to call a friend who would help me give the bribery amount of SR1,000, and a strict instruction to avoid calling my ―mudir‖ (manager in the company). In a bid to cut the story short, here‘s my email to my manager the next day when I was already with my family in Manila: From: Sent: Thursday, October 8, 2015 2:06 AM To: Subject: Re: Final Exit formalities

Dear Mr. MM, Thank God I am with my family now amid yesterday's horrible experience of being picked up in a van and "detained" by two authorities (apparently from Muroor) who asked that I show them first my Iqama, then my exit visa, which were both NOT in my possession as Mr. XXX knew. In fact, in Mr. XXX’s reply to my inquiry a week ago on whether or not I should have a printed exit visa, he said that it was not needed. All I need to present to authorities was my passport, according to him, adding that it would reflect in the government's system anyway. Mr. XXX, however, fell short in his response to my related inquiry days ahead of this incident about whether or not it was 100% sure that police or, in this case, any Saudi authorities roaming around streets, would be satisfied with my possession only of a copy of my Iqama and my original passport. And the rest is history that included a painful experience under these Saudi authorities in Balad plaza on the last hours of my final exit day as I discussed to you personally in your office an hour after I was "released." I lost a hundred Saudi riyal from a bribing authority as I gamely handed over the amount to him in a bid to beat my flight's schedule six hours from that time on. But I would later on know that apart from that amount, I lost more than one thousand riyals, but not more than two thousand riyals, from my wallet that the authorities took from me by force along with my cellphone and other personal papers and effects.


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I don't have bribery proof, but I trust that you believe in my version of this incident and further hope that you would send me financial assistance (or whatever you / the company may call it) to ameliorate the money that my family lost from that incident. If you would allow, kindly arrange to send any amount under the recipient's name (DCA) via (WU). Otherwise, please advise. Thanks, (DCA)

In front of the ―arresting officer‖, I had the chance to contact a Filipino friend. He asked his friend, a Saudi national, to help me get out of trouble by calling the officer through my cellphone. Immediately after getting the bribed SR100, he freed me. My friend picked me up at Star, drove me first to my regional manager‘s office as I was contacted by our government relations officer, who said that I may get some money from the office since I was ―robbed‖ and, second, to my accommodation. Personally talking to me when I went back to the office, my boss expressed concern over news about me that he heard from our government relations officer, asked what time would I be going to the airport so that his office may still give me some money apart from the usual end-of-service benefits. But there‘s no call from the office anymore. In Manila I followed up my request for months, to no avail. I later sensed that being with my family at my side proved to be a bonus. DC Alviar

The Essence of a God-fearing Life How does it feel living at the age of an early 90’s or 80’s? Oh, how wonderful to have such a fulfilling essence of an old woman with an appeal and sharp intelligence. That woman was not exactly beautiful or attractive, but has lived a life-long experience of God-fearing tasks and what to say a revealing essence of personality development. It has been from the fruitful years. Having been a child of plain personality, raised and educated on a scholarly academic environment, being a simple lass has given her the title of an achiever. Though she has been from a poor sibling, she was moved to a surviving setup of educational experience. She has passed through a prolonged agony of pain and sacrifices, but managed to hold a diploma after ten years of college life. Changing herself to become a professional, she worked on a basis of intellectual appeal. Being a breadwinner in a family of ten, she worked as a teacher losing herself to the quadrangle of challenges – her work, her surviving family, her personal ambition, and her adjustment to a sophisticated environment. She failed to balance herself between a success for herself and a ladder for the other members of the family. What a question. The fourth and fifth decade of the self-made woman must now be made into a question – the decision of being single or getting married, making herself rich or


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professionally high achiever. That idea of the socioeconomic balancing between love and life made a surprise of a new person, though it was late. The conclusive six decades was so traumatic, yet inspiring for the retirement age comes. At this early time she faces the final destiny of the ladder – the God-fearing life of serving others for the glory of God. Is this a legend? La Pieta

ILLUSTRATION ARTIST UNKNOWN

The Epitome of Success and Defeat In a contextual definition, success and defeat are always in contrast. The Webster dictionary defines both words on a lexical meaning. Experience of both words will definitely give a man a different shade – that of success as the brightest outlook and defeat with a definite sad connotation such as black, gray, or dark blue. Emotions, feelings, and experiences will give man different shades of brightness and darkness. As a personal experience, success is the epitome of happiness, an ultimate red, defining it to the utmost comparison and superlative definition. It is the ultimatum of a cloud nine feeling, an ecstasy of


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emotion, a serenity of vision, and the highest step towards the loud noise of the deafening challenge of love and peace. On the other hand, defeat is the going down of creation. It is the lowest ebb of fading sanctions of depressive being. It is the most desperate epitome of a negative vision. It is the opposite vision of a rainbow. It is an isolated word of desperation. It is the secret poison eating up the cursory movement of the mind and the heart – pain, bitterness, depression – a challenging post to the abnormality of decision-making. With such comparison, laughter is the therapeutic medicine against defeat and loneliness. But laughter is the most delicious poison that cures love. What an idiocracy. La Pieta


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VALIANT WAR SURVIVOR

The Memoirs of Jamy Jacinto Monte Varona, As Told to and Written By Aida Varona Diaz

(PART 3, CONTINUATION FROM VOL 1 ISSUES 9 & 10) BATAAN THE THEATER OF WAR In Bataan we were able to pick up the broadcast coming from the Tokyo Radio Press, especially the news spoken by a female broadcaster. The propaganda said in part that the Japanese forces were beginning to conclude the war in the Philippines; to be sure they were already fighting us in Bataa, but they were still stabbing the peninsula as our force was fiercely resisting their invasion. Of course, I could not personally know how much of the peninsula the Japanese forces had penetrated, whether they had already occupied the river that was in the middle of the peninsula. The Division in Command was aware only of the stabbing actions by the Japanese. And we knew Company G 45th Infantry was in the vicinity where the enemy was awaiting their reinforcement. The meager intelligence was enough to make us ready for them. Battery H 92nd Coast Artillery prepared the guns emplacement of the 155 millimeter gun, ready for firing. It was now a day after Christmas when we were joined by Battery H 92nd. CAC just came from Zambales, north east of Luzon. Battery H gun crews prepared the guns for action, mounting the guns on points advantageous to us against the enemy, considering the range of the target. The 155 mm gun zeroed to the moon a command load, a salvo fire was released. The result of the salvo fire by the 155 mm gun, the target was directly hit. On the following morning, the sea coast fog was thick enough and we hardly sighted two barges in convoy. The distance of these barges to the shore was about a thousand yards. Our shore Batteries and the possibilities for us to distinguish as to whether they were friends or foes our small caliber fired; but not until the battery of the 37 mm gun fired when few were swimming ashore. Under the inquiry about their purpose, they confirmed that they were going to the river. The mouth of this river was a few hundred yards to the barges that was fired at and was hit.

This obscured target has several hollow depressions or concavity and several Japanese soldiers awaiting their reinforcement, but fired by the 155 mm gun which was a direct hit. These were confirmed by those who swam ashore from the two barges that were hit and sank. In 1934, Battery B. 91st Coast Artillery Corps in the month of May was assigned to watch Lumber Jack cutting lumbers at the U.S. reservations along the Quinawan River. Battery B camp was a few yards to the mouth of the river. I was at the time enlisted, joined, and assigned to Battery B 91st CAC (PS) U.S. Army. This was to confirm the physical mouth of the river with the premise of irregularities, depressions, or caves. It was known that the Japanese losses were so great they wanted reinforcement which was granted. Not only that they needed

Aida Varona Diaz cherishes the memoirs of her father, Jamy Jacinto Monte Varona.


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more soldiers, but also war supplies. We got this information from some natives who served as lookouts and civilians to counteract or prevent the Japanese supply ship from entering Subic Bay and re-supplying their land forces. Battery H CAC of the U.S. Army installed a 155 mm gun at Morong Point facing the entrance of the Bay. This was a hard job which our men overcame, because these were set up on the mountainous and forested areas where some Japanese snipers who ambushed the U.S. mounted Cavalry and attacked them to prevent our personnel in order to deprive them of guns and supplies. I was involved in this aspect of hostilities. It was a big headached to our Battalion Commander, Major John Ball. I was with him as his car driver. We were both adequately armed. I had with me an automatic rifle, six clips loaded with 30 caliber ammunitions, plus a loose of 250 rounds. Major John Ball was similarly equipped. Before we started to go, Major Ball had to get fresh information from an Officer who seemed to know where the danger of Japaneses snipers might be encountered. On the way, we came upon a road which descended about 200 yards and hit a blind curb. Major John Ball asked me to slow down and stop. Again we started and drove slowly. Moving to about a hundred yards up, and then stopped. Major Ball got off the car and walked to our left of the road. There he saw three soldiers lying on their belly in a ditch. Major Ball asked them why they were in such position. They said they were snipers somewhere and told him to watch out because of the presence of snipers. One soldier pointed to a spot on our right at the opposite sides of the road where the snipers were supposed to be hiding. TO BE CONTINUED

DepEd reports increase in support for Brigada Eskwela

Screenshot from DepEd website

PASIG CITY, May 13, 2017 – The Brigada Eskwela initiative of the Department of Education (DepEd) continues to generate higher support every year from education stakeholders since its first kick-off in 2003.


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In a recent press conference at the DepEd Central Office, Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali recalled how this effort evolved since its first implementation, ―Noong 2003, hindi pa mandatory para sa ating paaralan ang pagsali sa Brigada. Only around 30% of our schools participated that time. But in 2007, it increased to 100% school voluntary participation.‖

This increase in school participation—noting its non-mandatory status—led to the issuance of a Department Order in 2008, which enjoined all DepEd schools to participate yearly in the Brigada Eskwela activities.

Furthermore, Umali also cited the increase in the generated resources from education stakeholders. From the generated resources and support in 2012 amounting to P1,519,575,657.13, it increased to P7,263,949,535.83 in 2016.

―With these figures, kitang kita po natin kung paano naging matagumpay ang Brigada Eskwela sa pagsulong ng mga taon,‖ Umali said.

―For this year, 2017, if we equal what we have done last year, that by itself is already an achievement. But I‘m sure that we will surpass it,‖ Umali added.

Call for participation

In the same press conference, Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones, together with ASec. Umali, Undersecretary Jesus Mateo, and External Partnerships Service (EPS) Director Margarita Ballesteros, invited all education stakeholders to participate in the Brigada Eskwela 2017 from May 15 to 20.

For this year‘s Brigada Eskwela, Briones mentioned that aside from school maintenance activities, other efforts such as the anti-illegal drug use campaign lectures, distribution of pencils gathered under the One Million Lapis Campaign, and opening of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) registration desk, will also be conducted at the national kick-off in Cebu City.

―Many of our children are still unable to join the formal learning system. With all its improvements and opportunities, meron pa ring hindi nakakaabot dahil sa poverty, school‘s distance, early marriages, etc.,‖ Briones said on the opening of the ALS registration desk.

Briones shared that the Education Department is expecting around 500-1000 Brigada volunteers and people from the community in Cebu City to register in the ALS registration desk.

Furthermore, other activities such as earthquake and fire drills, Rabies Awareness Campaign, and tree/vegetable planting are set to be conducted in selected schools nationwide.

The whole DepEd Executive Committee (ExeCom) and other DepEd officials are set to spread and visit all regions to participate, and monitor the successful conduct of the Brigada Eskwela 2017. Taken from http://www.deped.gov.ph/press-releases/deped-reports-increase-support-brigada-eskwela

Confidently Beautiful The Ms. Universe pageant competition has been one of the most glamorous events televised worldwide. People, both men and women, have always looked forward to the new batch each year. It has become so popular that it is even familiar among children. As Filipinos, we have absorbed Ms. Universe into our culture such that we even created a set of jokes labeled as ―Ms. Universe jokes.‖ In spite of its popularity, there does not seem to be a lot of people giving its purpose and history some thought. A quick Google search leads us to the official website of Ms. Universe, which did not narrate how it all began. Wikipedia

provided the general information about this beauty pageant competition, assuming the sources are reliable and valid. Briefly stated, pageantry, in which the swimsuit catwalk is the main attraction, came into existence twice.

Photo Credit: SM Mall of Asia Official Facebook Page

http://www.deped.gov.ph/press-releases/deped-reports-increase-support-brigada-eskwela


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It first gained popularity early in 18th century as a way to boost tourism. One day, a devastating hurricane struck the island city of Galveston, Texas. In order to recover, tourism in the form of beauty pageant contest was one of the solutions proposed and implemented. It has become such an overnight success that the island‘s population tripled for that event. Other states and countries were quick to follow, so on 1926, Galveston made it an international competition known as ―International Competition of Pulchritude‖ (Just a side note, ―pulchritude‖ apparently means beauty). The winner of the competition then, will be given the title of ―Ms. Universe.‖ The competition was discontinued twice first in Galveston due to the Great Depression in U.S.A. (but was continued in Belgium). The next was at a global level due to World War II. Without reference to the past competitions, the current Ms. Universe pageantry and organization started in 1952 by Pacific Knitting Mills, a clothing and swimwear company based in California, when they co-sponsored the yearly event. Since then, the company, together with the organization, has been acquired by different companies in the course of time as it maintained and/or gained even more popularity. The Ms. Universe as we know it today is owned by Donald Trump. The tagline of Ms. Universe pageant competition is ―Confidently Beautiful‖- two simple words that create a whole new arbitrary meaning depending on each person‘s experience. At least with the single word ―confidence‖ or ―confident,‖ there is pretty much a universal agreement as to how it feels and how it affects our behavior. The candidates have to be confident of who they are, what they can do, what battles in life they have won and lost, and what history they carry, among other things. But what about ―beautiful‖? What is it and who defines it? There are so many definitions and catchphrases for beauty and being beautiful, but if we were to follow ―Beauty is in the eye of the beholder‖ and ―Beauty starts with the soul,‖ then there is no way around making a standard set of

qualifications for it. After all, beauty is subjective and virtue is more important and timeless than physical qualities. Typically, physical beauty has 2 essential qualities. These are symmetry and adherence to 1:1.618 ratio. The more these two are observed in our physical embodiment, the more physically attractive and pleasant we are. This is scientific and mathematical, and not prejudicial. In the case of symmetry, an experiment was conducted where in babies were used to identify which among pairs of people were considered ―beautiful‖ (depending on their definition), since theoretically, they still have no sense of self and their consciousness is least tainted by the environment around them. The study found that babies were drawn to faces that showed

Photo Credit: The Huffington Post


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more symmetry. Babies might not say that these people are ―beautiful‖ but this is an insight into our biological inclinations which, some might say, are our subconscious ideas about beauty. Of course, physical beauty is not everything. What happens when one is born with a condition that renders the person unable to gain mass and that imposes one such unusual face and a set of physiological limitations? Such is the case of Lizzie Velasquez, a woman born with Marfan syndrome and an undiagnosed non-terminal genetic disorder. The sight of her elicited such strong reactions from people that she was labeled as ―the ugliest person in the world‖ and was subjected to repeated bullying and bashing. Nevertheless, she rose above it. Even before this distressing phenomenon, she already had the love and support of her family and friends. She was already a nice person and she realized that to allow herself to be crushed would also crush her loved ones who believed in who she truly is. From there, she created her own YouTube channel and there she showcased what it truly means to have courage and inner beauty. Bullying inspired her to inspire others to be the best that they can be as people. Instead of cowering in the face of bullies and hiding herself, she all the more flaunts herself knowing that she is creating positive impact to society. What started out as a tourism or commercial stunt became an arena to showcase ethnicities, culture, physical beauty, intellect, virtues, and many other things. Pageants before focused mainly on physical beauty, as if ―Ms. Universe‖ pertained to the most attractive woman of the lot, or the woman who got the most votes according to who appeared best in whatever attires they wore. As times change, ―Ms. Universe‖ takes on the word ―universe‖ on a whole new level. These women should have beauty and brains although the latter is showcased under time pressure. The woman with these two qualities is deemed as having more ―universal‖ qualities. The bar was raised when Ms. Universe-Philippines 2015 Pia Wurtzbach added a third quality to being Ms. Universe as not only someone ―confidently beautiful‖ but also someone ―with a heart‖ who cares for the people around her and in touch with the current events. AE Tong

Silent Letters in Some English and Foreign Words

Most often Filipinos pronounce English words as they see it. Like chassis, which is of French origin and which means the supporting frame of an automobile, and has come to the English vocabulary, is most often pronounced by Filipinos as [cha-sis]. While in French, the final ‗s‘ or ‗t‘ are usually silent, as in mardi gras, debris, fillet, chalet, etc.

Here I have compiled a mixed list of the most common, and sometimes seldom used, English and other words of foreign origin, that are often mispronounced, not only by Filipinos, but most Asians. I have also added some famous car brands and other pronunciation lists that may be useful for the reader. Practice and enjoy the rich

English language.


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Red Letters = Silent


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Makilahok sa

responsableng citizen

journalism. Hatid din

natin dito’y

komunikasyong

pangkaunlaran dahil

kung basta diseminasyon

ng impormasyon, nauulit

lang natin ang trabaho

ng marami sa atin.

megamanilascene. wordpress.com

Ang online na magasin.

Mga pangkaunlarang

pag-uulat, larawan, at

video sa Mega Manila

at buong Pilipinas.

Sulatan ang Publisher/Editor

DC Alviar

[email protected]

---Ned Samar


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CITIZEN /

PARTICIPATORY

JOURNALISM

Mega Scene (ISSN: 2508-0458)

Development Reports in Mega Manila

and the rest of the Philippines.

Estrella L. Mendoza

Circulation Manager / Treasurer

DC Alviar

Publisher/Editor

PUBLIC

You need not be a writer/journalist as long as you can write or help us expose economic hardships, political struggles, and social injustices. Here are the email addresses of Mega Scene Bureaus near you:

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